More Drought Assistance Available

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The Obama Administration announced additional drought assistance for livestock producers in response to the drought. USDA will provide nearly $16 million in financial and technical assistance to immediately help crop and livestock producers in 19 states. USDA will transfer $14 million in unobligated program funds into the Emergency Conservation Program. These funds can be used to assist in moving water to livestock, provide emergency forage for livestock and to rehabilitate lands severely impacted by the drought. The National Credit Union Administration will allow an additional 1,000 credit unions to increase their lending to small businesses. These credit unions are eligible for a low-income designation, which permits unlimited lending to small business owners, including farmers. The Department of Transportation (DOT) will provide emergency waivers for federal truck weight regulations and hours of service requirements to drought-stricken communities. President Obama convened the White House Rural Council to review response actions and to develop additional policy initiatives to assist drought stricken areas. He asked all areas of the federal government to look at further steps it can take to “ease the pain of this historic drought.”